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A couple days later Dr. Richard Masters and April Donovan were sitting in Dr. Masters’ office talking about an upcoming lecture.
"I can’t wait to attend the anti-aging conference next week. I saw the list of speakers and they’re all top professionals. This looks like it’ll be one of the best events this year." April said.
"Yes, I know. We’ll both learn a lot from this conference. I’m going to bring my wife; she enjoys these professional gatherings. Are you going to bring anyone?" asked Dr. Masters.
"No. I really don’t know anyone I want to bring who’s interested in this information." April said.
Dr. Masters thought for a moment and said, "Hey, how about that young man you met the other day. What is his name…Brian something? You remember, the crazy guy who wants us to work with him developing, of all things, immortality!"
They both laughed.
"Seriously though, he came into the lab to talk with me." April said.
"Yeah? What did he say?" asked Dr. Masters.
The telephone rang in the middle of their conversation. Dr. Masters picked up the phone. It was Brian Storm. Brian invited Richard Masters and April Donovan to lunch, and they accepted.
The next day, Brian met Dr. Masters and April at a nearby restaurant. They sat down at a table and ordered lunch. While waiting for their meals, they engaged in small talk about the weather and how things were going at the university. When the food came, they ate and talked about the upcoming anti-aging lecture.
"Hey Brian, I know that anti-aging technology interests you. Why don’t you come to the anti-aging lecture with us next week?" asked April.
"That sounds good," replied Brian.
Dr. Masters said, "I’m bringing my wife; you can go as April’s date."
"I’d love to." Brian said.
April Donovan blushed.
"While we’re on the subject of anti-aging, I’ve been reviewing the findings of the Human Genome Project. Have either of you two been following that research?" Brian asked.
"Yes." Dr. Masters replied.
"Good. I think there’ll be some promising results that come from this project. And it probably will spawn related areas of research that help us understand the mechanics of aging and death." Brian said.
"True," replied April.
"Now, I have a sound theory of immortality based on laboratory research and testing. Each of you saw it a few days ago. I think further development of this knowledge will yield specific techniques for transmuting us mortal beings into immortal beings." Brian said.
"You mean your theory is based on laboratory research?" asked Dr. Masters.
"Yes. Actually, it comes from two different sources: a university research department and a medical facility at a major hospital," replied Brian.
"Oh, I didn’t know that." Dr. Masters said.
"Not too many people know about this knowledge. And fewer still have done anything with it. As far as I know, I’m the first to integrate it into a complete theory of physical immortality." Brian asserted.
"Wow. I thought you just made this stuff up. I didn’t realize there’s been actual tests done on which you based your ideas." April admitted.
"There have been several longevity experiments conducted. My theory is based on the most promising ones. However, the theory is all mine; no one has ever asserted or tested it before." Brian said.
Dr. Masters and April looked at each other. Then they turned to Brian with their full attention.
"That’s why we’re here today. I want both of you to work with me to validate or falsify my theory. If we validate my theory, we’ll be pioneers in the nascent field of physical immortality. I can’t promise that we’ll be famous, but it could happen." Brian stated.
Dr. Masters and April looked at each other again. Brian got up and walked away from the table for a few minutes. The doctor and his research assistant discussed this opportunity while Brian was gone.
Brian returned to the table a short while later. He sat down and Dr. Masters said, "We’d be honored to work with you. And you can conduct your research in our lab at Occidental University."
"I’m so glad you two understand what I’m doing. If my theory proves correct, we’ll introduce the greatest value to the world—far greater than all previous discoveries." Brian proudly asserted.
Brian, Dr. Masters, and April worked together for six months at Occidental University testing Brian’s theory of immortality. They did extensive research, conducted experiments, and observed the results. They tried several different approaches to thoroughly test Brian’s initial theory. Each researcher was able to reproduce the same results under varying conditions. They realized they were on to something significant.
It was after midnight. Brian Storm was laboring under a desk lamp, reviewing the results of their experiments. He had a paper divided into several columns, each column filled with numbers. He entered those numbers into a computer, hoping to discover what the data revealed.
The clock kept ticking. Brian was getting tired. His eyes began to burn. All the numbers on his paper were now on the computer. He let the computer tabulate the results. Then he converted the results into a graph and printed it.
While looking at the graph, Brian saw an unmistakable pattern. He noticed that every test they conducted pointed to chromosome #4 as the common cause of cellular senescence. Surely, he thought, this chromosome controls aging, perhaps even death.
Brian rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock, which said 1:30 am. The idea occurred to him to check out the findings of the Human Genome Project. He searched their web site and saw some material related to aging. But there were no definite correlations between specific chromosomes and aging.
Hungry and exhausted, Brian hit the lab’s power switch and walked out. He drove home, oblivious to the ride, thinking only about what the data revealed. He wondered if he could transfigure chromosome #4 to obviate cellular senescence. Upon arriving home, he ate a late-night snack and climbed into bed. He was asleep in minutes.
The next morning Brian called April Donovan.
"Hello April? Can you arrange a meeting tomorrow afternoon? I want to discuss my findings with you and Dr. Masters." Brian said.
"All right; I’ll tell Dr. Masters. I’m looking at his schedule now and see that he’s free at 3:00. Is that good for you?" April said.
"Yes. Let’s meet at the lab tomorrow at 3:00." Brian replied.
At the meeting, Brian, Richard, and April sat at a table that contained some folders and a computer. Brian stood up and spoke.
"Last night I computed all the data we acquired. The data unequivocally revealed that chromosome #4 is the common cause of cellular senescence." Brian said.
He opened a folder and handed a copy of his graph to Richard and April. They reviewed the graph.
Brian continued, "We know that the human genome is the blueprint for the human organism. It determines the configuration and activities of each cell. The genome exists inside the nucleus of every cell in a person's body."
"We also know that the human genome consists of coiled threads of DNA. And DNA consists of chromosomes, which consist of genes."
"But we don’t yet know which genes effect which aspects of the human organism. However, the research we’ve conducted reveals that chromosome #4 plays a role in cellular senescence."
"I propose that we transmute specific genes in chromosome #4 in an attempt to obviate cellular senescence. If we can prevent cellular senescence, I think we’ll have immortal beings—people whom never age or die. However, we need to test this. If our tests prove positive, we can develop a treatment that will transmute those genes."
Dr. Masters said, "Are you certain this is the route to physical immortality?"
Brian responded by saying, "No. That’s the purpose of these experiments: to find out if my hypothesis is correct. But so far, the evidence points in this direction. Plus, my theory is sound. Do you see any contradictions in it?"
"I don’t," said April.
"Neither do I," said Dr. Richard Masters.
"Good. Then let’s begin transmuting genes next week." Brian said.
____________________
The next week April Donovan set up the lab to conduct new experiments. Brian and April worked together to isolate chromosome #4 taken from a human cell. Dr. Masters used his expertise in genetics to identify various genes within that chromosome.
Over the next several months, the three pioneering researchers worked to transmute several genes and observe the results. Most experiments proved nothing. Then they hit the jackpot.
By altering a specific gene, living cells averted senescence. These researchers had discovered the key to preventing senescence and apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death). Brian called this gene the ‘immortality gene’. Repeated tests with human cells revealed that the ones whose ‘immortality gene’ was transmuted never aged or died.
Brian realized, however, that there still was a problem. People that already aged needed to be brought back to a youthful state. Otherwise, they might live forever—but they would look and feel old.
At a meeting Brian said to his research associates, "We finally know how to make human beings immortal. Yet, what about people who’ve already grown old? Who wants to live forever as an old man or woman? Not many people."
Richard said, "That’s a good point. I’ve been working with anti-aging medicine for many years and I know which treatments work. I’m sure that hormones can be used as a natural method to reverse aging—to bring an older person back to his or her youthful state. Do you want to conduct some experiments in this area?"
Brian said, "Definitely. Let’s go to work."
The three researchers tested different hormones along with other treatments to see which was the most effective in reversing age-related deterioration. After controlled testing, they realized that Human Growth Hormone or HGH was the most effective treatment.
Upon understanding the results of their experiments, Brian proposed that they create a pill that would transmute the ‘immortality gene’. He also wanted to incorporate HGH into the pill to reverse age-related deterioration. His coworkers agreed, and they began developing the pill.
They tried several combinations of ingredients to make the pill. After much testing, they discovered a certain chemical that transmutes the ‘immortality gene’ in chromosome #4, but leaves the rest of the genome intact. Plus, they put a small amount of HGH into the pill to initiate the rejuvenation process. Brian dubbed this pill the immortality pill.
They began testing this pill on volunteer subjects. After extensive tests, they learned that people who ingested the immortality pill experienced two major benefits:
Two years passed since these researchers gave the immortality pill to randomly selected individuals. After significantly examining those individuals, the researchers discovered no side effects from ingesting the immortality pill. In fact, the only effect the pill had on people was that it restored their youthful appearance, which remained with them throughout the entire two-year test period.
April Donovan worked closely with two test subjects who took the immortality pill. These subjects were married, and the wife became pregnant during the two-year test period. She gave birth to a healthy child, and April examined the child. To her pleasant surprise, April learned that the child had the same genetic alteration as its parents. This meant the child was born immortal. It never would have to take the immortality pill or any other youth-rejuvenating medicine.
Upon discussing the test results, these three researchers grasped the implications: only those currently alive would need to take the immortality pill. Once most people received this treatment, all their progeny—humanity—would be congenitally immortal. That is, future generations would be born immortal with no need for anti-aging treatments. These three pioneers would, in effect, shift humanity from the state of mortality to the state of immortality.
Brian, Dr. Masters, and April realized they have succeeded in their search for immortality. Brian’s theory of immortality proved to be valid. They used their research to develop an immortality treatment that was easy to take, safe, and affordable. They planned a magnificent but unpublicized celebration. They were about to party in grand style.